Hi,

Let me first describe the symptoms -

I started hearing a scratching, almost chain-like noise from the right side of the engine a few months ago. It has gotten worse over time. The more I drive in a day, the more apparent it becomes. It sounds almost like a heat shield with a pebble in it...very mechanical, very obvious. If I drive 10 minutes, it will not be heard, but if I drive 20+ minutes, I can hear it.

Independent mechanic thinks it is the AC compressor clutch. I searched the issue and I cannot find any symptoms besides "my a/c stopped working..."

Since I have this noise, could it be something else?

He quoted me $1481.54 for the entire thing (compressor, clutch, etc) and $716.45 for just the clutch.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

check the passenger side radiator fan to make sure it is not making the noise.

 

That seems like a pretty high estimate. They must be charging a significant amount on labor. I have been doing research all day today for an AC compressor for my 05 RL. It seems as if it went out last night on me. Blowing just hot air, which is not a good thing during an Oklahoma summer. I didn't notice any noise coming from my car before it went out, but then again it is so quiet inside I probably wouldn't have noticed. Good luck on your fix and I would probably take it to another mechanic for a quote.

 

^ Read up on the stator first.

OP, that is a very high estimate. Does the noise occur at idle or just when moving? Does it happen with the A/C off? Fans off?

 

The noise occurs all the time. I hear it at idle, but only with the windows down. I'm assuming it also happens while the car is in motion but I cannot hear it then due to the wind noise. It happens with AC on or off, fan only on or off. Happens all the time basically.

 

If your confident enough to pull the passenger side under hood trim piece covering the drive belt, you might be able to narrow it down to exactly where the noise is coming from yourself. It is much more common for the drive belt tensioner to cause the noise your describing. It should be louder with the compressor clutch engaged, causing more pressure on that drive belt and tensioner. Even if it is not the tensioner, i would suggest at least pulling off the drive belt and letting it run to make certain the noise is not coming from the timing belt. Even if your independent mechanic is correct, there would be no need to replace the entire compressor and or stator as long as it's working properly. Just the pulley and clutch set would be recommended. I would go to the dealer for that price, unless you just really like the guy.

 

just to be clear on my post, I was referring to radiator fan, not hvac fan.
the bearings went out in mine and it made noise and I could feel slight vibration on steering wheel

2 techs and I were trying to figure it out and finally noticed the fan blade

 

Can the A/C clutch make noise with the A/C off? I truly don't know.

 

The clutch will not make noise with the a/c off. Can you take a video of the noise? Could be the compressor itself. The denso compressors are about 250.00 on amazon new.

 

Didn't think so. The compressor should be off with the A/C too.

 

Sorry, I misquoted the price of the compressor. They are 339.17 from Amazon.

 

OP, has your problem been resolved or diagnosed yet? My TL just developed a very similar issue... the rattling "pebble in heat shield" type noise you described, but only when the A/C is on. Thanks for any info that may not already be shown in this thread.